The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

k Girl came dancing

"It isn't there. There

ll?" exclaim

-believe. You see it, but it isn't. Come on

tiously, stretching out their hands to feel the wall and finding, to their astonishment, that they could feel nothing because nothing opposed them. They walked on a few steps and found themselves in

ent as if wondering where they had come from. Our friends forgot their good manners for a time and returned the s

noses and mouths very small. Their clothing was tight fitting and of brilliant colors, being handsomely embroidered in quaint designs with gold or silver threads; but on their feet they wore sandals with no s

n you uninvited, but we are traveling on important business and find it necessar

Finally, a short one whose heart-shaped body was very broad replied, "We ha

others call your ci

inquired, "Were you born with those queer forms you have, or has s

declared the Wizard, "and we con

arged by others who joined it. All were evidently

hy, who knew it was better to

diamond-like head. "Wh

who rules over you?"

elf, or at least tries to do so. It is not

ard ref

you," said he after a little

orum," they answ

who i

the laws," said the ma

cipal person here?"

zzled way. "The High Coco-Lorum is a public servant. H

talk with him. Our mission here requires us to consult one high in aut

were quite nicely planned and seemed comfortable and convenient. After leading them a few blocks, their conductor stopped before a house which was neither better nor worse than the others. The doorway was shaped to admit the strangely formed bodies of these people, being narrow at the top, broad in the middle and tapering

re left outside with the throng of natives that had now gathered. For a small city there seemed to be a large number of inhabitants,

ked them to be seated. "I hope your mission here is a peaceful one," he said, looking a

e called Thists

knew that. And we

O

at thistles, you know," con

prickly things?" inquired

points of the thistles cannot hurt us,

d-li

lse in our country that is fit for food. All around the City of Thi grow countless thistles, and all we need do is to go and gather them. If we wanted anythi

does it happen that your city jumps around

urrounds it has a trick of turning this way or that, and so if one is standing upon the plain and facing north, he is like

s head. "But I have another question to ask: How does it

act is I have everything my own way. No one else knows anything about our laws, and so I make the laws to suit myself. If any oppose me or question my acts, I tell them it's the law and that settles it

nd now, as you are the principal person in Thi, I beg you

o captives. No strangers but yourselves are here,

he rules your city and you, because you are in the

inquired whether we live in the Land of Oz or not. And any Ruler who rules us from a di

u happen to have any talented magician among your

it is all of the ordinary kind. I do not think any of us has

way for nothing!" excl

bending her stuffed body backward until her yarn hair touched the f

orum watched Sc

to. The Herkus live back of us, beyond the thistles and the twist

giants?" a

r their slaves and they are so much stronger than giants that t

u know?" a

o," answered the

Herkus yourself?"

t be true, otherwise what would

hat you people hitch dragons to yo

He touched a button, and a band began to play. At least, they heard the music of a band, but couldn't tell where it came from. "That tune is the order to my charioteer to bring

of yours bite?" as

iot? I'm proud to say that my dragon is harmless, unless his steering gear breaks, and he was manufactured

ward them. When it stopped before the High Coco-Lorum's house, Toto barked sharply at the sprawling beast, but even tiny Trot could see that the dragon was not alive. Its scales were of gold, and each one was set with sparkling jewels, while it walked in such a stiff, regular manner that it could be nothing else

on. We are all very proud of our auto-dragons, many of which are in

oteer did

er him in music,"

so I

ls. The Sawhorse, the Mule, the Lion and the Woozy followed after and had no trouble in keeping up with the machine. Indeed, they had to go slow to keep from running into it. When the wheels turned, another music box concealed somewhere under the chariot played a

rand. He pointed out the different buildings and parks and fountains in much the same way that the conductor does on an American "sightseeing wagon" does, and being gu

o eat?" asked Button

y. "Fine, fresh thistles

but Dorothy said in a protesting voice, "OUR

d then he added as an afterthought, "but we

od even then," said little Trot. "

rum shook his di

have so many thistles? However, if you can't eat what we eat, don't eat anything.

the banquet, sir, which will be merry enough without us, although it is given in our hon

rather starve somewhere else than in this city, and who knows, we m

ts of the High Coco-Lorum, they insisted on continuin

he darkness," re

ring Herku

Herkus would hurt

ance. But they are said to be so strong that if they had

her?" asked Button

ould do it," said

asked the Wizard, knowing that only a magician cou

"and magic is usually performed by magicians. But I have never heard that

side of the city and right through the Wall of Illusion out into the open country. "

eadful to be lined with sheets of pure go

ked the Wizard, "and those who are contented hav